Extreme Makeover: Library Edition!

It’s like a scene out of a Harry Potter book: the familiar feels strange, and the strange, familiar!   It’s not witchcraft—it’s Trinity’s library!  Don’t worry, you won’t be faced with moving staircases or talking portraits, but you will see changes. 

First, the fun stuff

Check out the top floor of the library—especially the central patio. We said goodbye to our old, 1970s model, rusty wrought iron and said hello to comfort with our beautiful new outdoor furniture.  The patio is now a non-smoking area so everyone can enjoy it on a nice day.

You may also notice new furniture on the north, east and south axes of the fourth floor. We made these changes in response to your requests for more quiet study areas and more computers.  As with the rest of the library, the fourth floor has wireless network access throughout, making access easy for those using laptops.  However, some laptop users have told us they prefer the security of wired power, so we’ve tried to place seating near outlets wherever possible. Note that some tables and seats include outlets at or near the surface.

What happened to the first floor?

[Note: as of this writing, the first floor is still in transition. What follows is a description of what it will be like when the shelving contractor is finished.--djg] 

If you visit the first floor you’ll see we’ve installed many more banks of compact shelving.  Besides finding government documents on the first floor, all of the bound journals have been consolidated and moved to the first floor. This means that unless you need a government document or an older journal article, you will find most other books on the 2^nd and 4^th floor.  These changes also helped to make the fourth floor changes possible.

So , where are the books now?

Since many of the books in the library have moved “up” in the building, everyone will be adjusting to new locations for books.  Books at call numbers A-L are on the second floor, and books at call numbers N-Z remain on the fourth.  Call number M (music) remains on the first floor, near the collection of recorded music.  It is now on the north end (behind the stairwell).

Library staff are here to help if you find yourself lost in a formerly familiar building! We know that shifting collections can be disorienting, so don’t get frustrated: ask for help!

Return to the Fall 2007 Library Newsletter